Automatically releasable jib hank and method of use

ABSTRACT

A jib hank or shackle is disclosed which is designed to be automatically released from locking slidable engagement with the headstay of a sailboat by contact between the underside thereof and the upper side of an identical jib hank in locking slidable engagement with the headstay. A method of changing jib sails on a sailboat using a plurality of such hanks on each jib is disclosed in which the new jib is raised and the old jib removed substantially simultaneously.

United States Patent Pattison, III

[451 Aug. 20, 1974 AUTOMATICALLY RELEASABLE JIB HANK AND METHOD OF USE Inventor: John B. Pattison, 111, 612 Mariposa Ave., Apt. 102, Oakland, Calif. 94610 Filed: June 4, 1973 Appl. No.: 366,693

US. Cl. 114/114 Int. Cl B63h 9/04 Field of Search 114/114, 102, 104, 108,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1871 Williams .,ll4/l14 374,476 12/1887 Jameson 114/114 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Phillips, Moore,

Weissenberger, Lempio & Strabala [5 7 ABSTRACT A jib hank or shackle'is disclosed which is designed to be automatically released from locking slidable engagement with the headstay of a sailboat by contact between the underside thereof and the upper side of an identical jib hank in locking slidable engagement with the headstay. A method of changing jib sails on a sailboat using a plurality of such hanks on each jib is disclosed in which the new jib is raised and the old jib removed substantially simultaneously.

11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENIEDAUBZOIBM SHEET 10? 3 FIG- 1 PATENIED AUBZ 0 I974 FIG- 2 SHEEI 205 3 PATENTEDAIJBZOIQH 3.830.182

FlG 11 AUTOMATICALLY RELEASABLE JIB HANK AND METHOD OF USE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to sailboats; and, more particularly, to apparatus and method for quickly raising and lowering jib sails.

2. Description of the Prior Art In sailing sailboats or the like, it is often necessary to decrease or increase the sail area when the wind available increases or decreases. Accordingly, it is necessary to take down one sail of given area and put up another of different area. For example, in sailboat racing the sail most commonly changed is the jib having jib hanks connecting it to the headstay of the sailboat. It is necessary to manually unclip each presently mounted jib hank to release the jib from the headstay. To erect the new jib it is necessary to fasten or clip the jib hanks connected to the new jib to the headstay before it is.

raised in the place of the old jib. This job is difficult and unpleasant to carry out since there may be as many as twelve or more such hanks on each jib and this operation, as a general rule, must be carried out in adverse weather conditions. Further, one jib must come fully down before the other can go up and the boat may lose headway in carrying out these steps. Such loss of time may be critical, particularly when racing such sailboats.

The latter problem might be avoided by rigging two such headstays on the boat but it would still be necessary to remove the jib which is not in use to eliminate the possibility of its snagging or dragging. Further, the use of two such headstays would be expensive and may bow the sailboat since they must be under enough tension to be rigid. Most boats, in fact, cannot carry two headstays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide apparatus and method for quickly raising and lowering jibs on a sailboat or the like while eliminating the time usually lost in carrying out such operations.

It is further object of this invention to provide apparatus and method which automatically frees one jib while simultaneously raising a second jib.

It is a still further object of this invention to carry out the foregoing objects in a relatively quick, easy and inexpensive manner under all types of weather conditions.

According to the teaching of this invention a novel automatically releasable jib hank is provided which comprises a shackle member adapted to slidably engage the headstay of a sailboat and a case member adapted to releasably lock the shackle member in sliding engagement with the headstay. Release means are included in the case member to automatically release the locking engagement between the case member and the shackle member, which release means includes an actuation means extending out of the case on one side thereof in a direction substantially parallel to the headstay when the hank is in locking engagement therewith and adapted to actuate the release means upon being compressively contacted. According to the method for raising and lowering jibs as taught by this invention, a

first jib, raised by a first halyard, is secured to the headstay by a first plurality of such automatically releasable jib hanks with the actuation means thereof extending in a downward direction. A second jib is connected to the same headstay by a second plurality of such automatically releasable jib hanks with the actuation means thereof extending in a downward direction. The second jib is then raised on the windward side of the first jib by a second halyard. As the second jib is raised, the leading one of the second plurality of such automatically releasable jib hanks thereon engages each succeeding one of the first plurality of such automatically releasable jib hanks on the first jib to release the first jib from locking engagement with the headstay until the first jib is fully released from the headstay and the second jib is fully erected. The boat is then tacked so that the first jib is on the windward side of the second jib and the first jib is lowered by means of the first halyard and stowed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a vertical view of a sailboat having apparatus in accordance with my invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a releasable device used in the arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the unlocking position of the device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 2 with the top removed to show the internal features thereof;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of an automatically releasable jib hank according to this invention with the unlocked position of the shackle thereof shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6 with the internal parts of the hank shown in locked position;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but with the internal parts of the hank shown in unlocked position;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the hank of FIG. 6 with the internal parts thereof shown in locked position;

FIG. 10 is a front view similar to FIG. 6 but with the internal parts thereof shown in unlocked position; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the hank of FIGS. 6-10 attached to a jib and in the process of being attached to or released from a headstay.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, as an example only, a sailboat 10 of the sloop type is shown having a hull l1 and a mast 12 extending vertically upward from the deck 13 thereof. A sail known as a jib 14 is shown as mounted on sailboat 10. A headstay 16 is connected at one end of the bow by any suitable means, such as turnbuckle 17, which is connected to a forward chain plate 17a, and at the other end to the mast 12. A backstay 15 is connected between the mast l2 and the stern by a second turnbuckle 18, as shown.

A portion of a boom 19 is shown mounted on the mast 12. It is to be understood that the main sail (not shown) of boat 10 may be carried by boom 19 and mast 12. A double pulley 20 is mounted on mast 12. A first line referred to as a halyard 21 may be connected at one end to a cleat 22 on mast 12 (or the deck 13, if-desired), then extends through one side of double pulley 20, and is connected at the other end to the top or head of jib 14. A second halyard 21a extends through the other side of double pulley and may have both ends secured to cleat 22a.

A line referred to as a jibsheet is secured at its middle to the clew or corner of jib 14 and at one end to a cleat 24 on one side of the deck 13. A further cleat (not shown) is also provided on the other side of deck 13 to which the other end of the jibsheet may be secured when the boat is on the opposite tack from that shown.

.lib hanks 26, which are to be described shortly, connectjib 14 to headstay 16. The tack 23 ofjib 14 is connected via a shackle or the like to chain plate 17a.

Aside from double pulley 20 and second halyard 21a, the foregoing has described a conventional sailboat 10 having a halyard 21 for raising and lowering jib 14. Conventional jib hanks 26 are lashed or otherwise permanently attached to the jib 14 and comprise shackles which include means such as manually releasable pistons or the like for slidable connection to' headstay 16.

However, as shown in FIG. 2, jib hanks 26 according to this invention are padlock-like devices having a case 27 and a shackle 28. Shackle 28 includes spaced heels 29, 30 (shown in both solid and dotted lines in FIG. 2)

which are inserted into a lower compartment 31 (alsoshown in dotted lines in FIG. 2) in case 27. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the free ends of heels 29, 30 have openings 32 extending therethrough for reasons to be discussed shortly.

Case 27 may include an integral apertured flange portion 33 so that a connection line 34 may be connected at one end, via aperture 35, to case 27 and at the other end, via a like integral flanged portion 36 on shackle 28, to aperture 37.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, jib 14 includes an integral grommet 38 through which one of the heels 29, 30 of shackle 28 is inserted prior to engagement with case 27. A jib luff rope 39 is shown which is built into the edge ofjib 14.

The headstay 15 of FIG. 1 can also be seen in FIG. 2 in cross section. That is, when shackle 28 is inserted into compartment 31 of case 27, the shackle 28 straddles headstay 16. A pair of indents 40 are provided on opposite sides of shackle 28 as shown. A'line 41, such as a beeswax line, is lashed about indents 40 to thus secure shackle 28 to jib 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, case 27 is separated into two compartments by a divider wall 42. Compartment 3], previously described, may be referred to as the lower compartment, with compartment 43 referred to as the upper compartment. As can be seen, heels 29,30 of shackle 28 enter compartment 31. A pair of spaced apertures 44, 45 are provided in divider wall 42. A plate 46, having integral spaced pins 47, 48 thereon, is disposed in upper compartment 43 with pins 47, 48 passing through apertures 44, 45, respectively. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the bottom wall 49 of compartment 31 includes a pair of spaced depressions 50 or the like for receiving the free ends of pins 47, 48 to prevent lateral movement of plate 46 when in the FIG. 3 position. As shown, pins 47, 48 pass through apertures 32 in heels 29, 30 of shackle 28.

An aperture 51 extends through wall 49 between depressions 50 for receiving the pin 52 of a release plate 53, which pin 52 may be integral with plate 53. An aperture 54 extends through divider wall 42 and is aligned with aperture 51 also for receiving pin 52. The pin 52 thus extends through aperture 54 and may be secured to the underside of plate 46. If desired, stop means or the like (not shown) may be provided on pin 52 within compartment 31 and thus the pin 52 need not be secured to plate 46. A locking spring 56 is disposed in upper compartment 43 between the other side of plate 46 and the upper wall 57 of upper compartment 43.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, case 27 also includes a rear compartment 58 having a plate 59 disposed therein. Plate 59, as shown, is wider than the shoulders 60 of the forward end of compartment 58 and includes a depressed portion 61 generally at the midpoint thereof. Portion 61 is so configured to pass about the body of pin 52. A normally compressed spring 62 is disposed between the plate 59 and the rear wall 63 of compartment 58. Spring 62 is adapted, as will be explained further hereinbelow, to move plate 59 from the dottedline position to its solid-line position and thus force the ends of heels 29, 30 of shackle 28 outwardly when pins 47, 48 are released from engagement in apertures 32.

The releasable feature of hanks 26 according to this invention will now be described. FIG. 3 shows the nor mal locking position of shackle 28 in case 27. The pins 47, 48 of plate 46 enter apertures 32 and retain the heels 29, 30 within compartment 31. At this point, spring 56 is in its relaxed position. Since release plate 53, which is integral with plate 46 via pin 52, is in the FIG. 3 position, the shackle 28 cannot be removed from case 27. A secure connection is thus provided.

At the same time, the spring 62 of FIG. 5 is compressed and pushes plate 59 against the end of the heels 29, 30 of shackle 28 (Le, the dotted line position). However, since pins 47, 48 hold these heels 29, 30 from movement out of case 27, the shackle 28 cannot be removed from case 27.

Referring now to FIG. 4, plate 53 has been pushed upwardly to thereby move the integrally connected plate 46 against spring 56 to thereby tension spring 56. At the same time, pins 47, 48, integral with plate 46, are released from engagement with the apertures 32 in heels 29, 30 (FIG. 3). Also, as shown in FIG. 5, plate 59, which was held in its dotted-line position by means of the engagement of pins 47, 48 in apertures 32, is

moved in the direction of arrows 64 by release of the compression of spring 62. The plate 59 thus moves to the solid line or relaxed position with portion 61 of plate 59 surrounding pin 52. The heels 29, 30 of shackle 28 are pushed free of case 27.

As shown in FIG. 2, the line 34 permits the shackle 28 to remain attached to case 27 so that the two parts 28 and 27 cannot be separated.

The use of hanks 26 according to this invention on sailboat 10 will now be. described. In operation, the hanks 26 are disposed along the headstay 16 as shown, the particular number thereof being a matter of choice. The shackles 28 of these hanks'26 are secured to both jib 14 and headstay 16 in the manner described hereinabove with respect to FIG. 2. The plates 53 are disposed in a downward position along headstay 16 (that is, the FIG. 3 position the shackles 28 are thus locked in the cases 27 as shown).

In operation, if it is desired to raise a new jib in place of jib 14 presently erected on sailboat 10, the tack 23 of the new jib is secured to the chain plate 17a and the hanks attached to the new jib are secured to the headstay 16 (e.g., in the same manner as jib 14). One end of the second halyard 21a is clipped onto the head or top of the new jib. The new jib is now raised inside of the old jib 14 along the common headstay 16. As the new jib is raised, via the second halyard, the top wall 65 (FIG. 3) of the leading one of hanks 26 which is mounted on the new jib and oriented as shown in FIG. 3 strikes against the plate 53 of each succeeding hank 26 mounted on the first jib 14. The shackle 28 of each succeeding hank on the first jib 14 is thus released from case 27 as previously described to thereby release a portion of jib 14. At the same time, of course, the new jib is raised in place to take up the loss of exposed sail area by the disengagement of the previous portion of jib 14.

When the second jib reaches the top of the headstay 16, it is firmly locked to the headstay 16 and the old jib 14 is held only by the first halyard 21 at the head or top of old jib 14. It is also held at deck 13 by the tack 23 of the jib 14. The sailboat.l0 may then be tacked so that the old jib 14 is on the windward side of the new jib. The old jib 14 will be plastered against the new jib by the force of the wind so that there is no danger of ripping the old jib 14. Old jib 14 may now be easily lowered by freeing the first halyard 21 and pulling the old jib 14 down at the tack end 23.

It can be seen that the shackles 28 are secured to cases 27 via lines 34 so that cases 27 cannot be lost since the shackles 28 remain secured to the grommets 38 in the old jib 14. Since the foregoing operations are carried out in a manner whereby the jib function is not lost, no way is lost during sailing. Thus, much distance may be picked up by eliminating the usual lag time re quired to lower one jib and raise a second in its place. This is particularly desirable when racing such sailboats.

The foregoing operations can also be carried out under adverse wind and weather conditions in an automatic manner and thus makes the lowering and raising of jibs or the like much easier, more comfortableand safer than known methods of accomplishing the same.

Referring to FIGS. 6 through 11, another embodiment 26 of the automatically releasable jib hank 26 according to this invention is shown. In this embodiment 26 the case 77 is adapted to be lashed to the jib l4 and the shackle 78 thereof is permanently hinged to the case 77.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the case 77 comprises a hollow box having a top wall 80 and a bottom wall 81 joined by side walls 82. The top 80 and bottom 81 walls of the case 77 are slotted to provide a generally U-shaped configuration as shown at 83 to receive the leading edge of the jib 14 and the jib luff rope 39. The free ends of. the U-shaped 83 portion of the case 77 are provided with apertured flanges 84 and any appropriate means 85 such as a metallic clip or a plurality of passes of beeswax line may be secured between the apertured flanges 84 through a grommet 86, for example, to permanently attach the case 77 of the jib hanks 26' to the jib 14.

According to this embodiment of the invention the shackle 78 is an L-shaped member one end of which is 6 hinged, as by means of pin 88, in a projection 87 provided on the opposite end of the case 77 from the U- shaped configuration 83. The other end of the shackle 78 is provided with a locking detent 89 adapted to engage the locking mechanism contained within the case 77.

The locking mechanism in the case 77 comprises a U-shaped hinge leaf member 90 including cross-bar 91 and legs 92 configured to match the U-shaped configuration 83 of the case 77. Thus, the legs 92 of the hinge leaf 90 extend along opposite sides of the slots in the top '80 and bottom 81 sides of the case 77 and are hinged at their free ends to the case 77, as by means of pins 93, for movement of the cross-bar 91 through an are between the inner surfaces of the top and bottom 81 walls of the case 77.

A leaf spring 94 is interposed between the upper surface of the hinge leaf member and the inner surface of the top wall 80 of the case 77 to bias the hinge leaf member into contact with the inner surface of the lower wall 81 of the case 77. The leaf spring 94 may be held in place within the case by a pin 95, for example, extending through its apex and into appropriate sockets in the side walls 82 of the case. I

The cross-bar 91 of the hinge leaf member 90 is provided with an actuation button 96 projecting from the underside thereof and through an appropriate aperture in the bottom wall 81 of the case 77. The actuation button 96 is of sufficient length to cause the hinge leaf member 90 to rotate through the full arc of which it is capable, bringing the cross-bar 91 thereof into contact with the inner surface of the top wall 80 of the case 77 when the actuation button is fully received within the case 77.

It will be seen in FIGS. 10 and 11 that the cross-bar 91 of the hinge leaf member 90 is also provided with a locking detent 97 adapted to receive the free end of the shackle 78 and mate with the detent 89 therein to ensure positive locking action.

The free end of the shackle 78 is preferably rounded and provided with an appropriate taper in the upper surface thereof to cooperate with a tapered lower surface on the cross-bar 91 of the hinge leaf member 90 to facilitate insertion thereof under such cross-bar 91 in establishing locking engagement therebetween. It will be understood that the shackle 78 may be more C- shaped than Lshaped if desired.

It will also be understood that resilient means (not shown in FIGS. 6-11) could be included in the case member 80 and bearing on the shackle 78 in such a way as to tend to cause the shackle to pivotwith respect to the case 80 moving the free end of the shackle away from locking engagement with the' case. The inclusion of such a further resilient means would tend to ensure positive action of the jib hank of FIGS. 6-11 upon actuation of the release means thereof as described in connection with FIG. 5.

It is, of course, possibleto make other obvious combinations of the-embodiments disclosed hereinabove. In addition, it is believed that those skilled in the art may make obvious changes in the structures taught herein to suit them to particular uses and means of manufacture without departing from the invention as claimed herein.

It will be seen that a jib might be released from the headstay, without raising a new jib in its place, by simply pulling the jib down along the headstay to bring the plurality of jib hanks into compressive contact with each other. Similarly, where the new jib to be raised is smaller than the old jib being removed, it will be necessary to pull the old jib down to bring the uppermost jib hanks thereon into contact with the leading jib hank of the new jib. It is believed that other variations in the method of raising and lowering jibs may be adopted by those skilled in the art to suit their own desires and needs without departing from the teaching of this invention. Thus, the jib hank and method taught by applicant are highly versatile and subject to ready adaptation to meet the wide variety of circumstances encountered in sailing and particularly in racing sailboats.

I claim as my invention:

1. A jib hank for sailboats comprising a shackle member adapted to slidably engage the headstay of a sailboat, a case member adapted to releasably lock said shackle member in sliding engagement with said headstay, said case member including release means adapted to be actuated to release said locking engagement between said shackle member and said case member, and actuation means extending from said jib hank on one side thereof in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said headstay when said jib hank is in locking engagement with said headstay, said actuation means being adapted to actuate said release means when said actuation means is subjected to compressive force and said jib hank being adapted to compressively contact the actuation means of an adjacent identical jib hank to actuate the release means thereof.

2. A jib hank as claimed in claim 1 wherein a resilient means is included in said case member and adapted to be compressed by said shackle member when said shackle member is in locking engagement with said case member, whereby said shackle member is forcibly moved out of locking engagement with said case member by said resilient means when said release means is actuated by said actuation means.

3. A jib hank as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shackle member is generally U-shaped, having heels of sufficient length to embrace both the luff rope of a jib sail and said headstay when said heels are received in said case member is locking engagement therewith,

said release means including a resilient means maintaining said locking engagement, and said actuation means includes an elongated member extending from said case and adapted to compress said resilient means upon being subjected to compressive forces.

4. A jib hank as claimed in claim 3 wherein means are included for securing said shackle member to said luff rope of said jib and elongated flexible means are provided to limit the spacial separation of said shackle member and said case member upon actuation of said release means by said actuation means.

5. A jib hank as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shackle member comprises an elongated member having a first portion and a second portion extending transversely to said first portion, the free end of said first portion of said elongated member is mounted on said case member for pivotal movement of.said elongated member to provide relative movement of the free end of said second portion of said elongated member toward and away from said case member, said free end of said second portion of said elongated member is 'case member and embracing said headstay, and said case member is adapted to be secured to the luff rope of a jib sail.

6. A jib hank as claimed in claim 5 wherein said re lease means includes a resilient means maintaining said locking engagement and said actuation means includes an elongated member extending from said case and adapted to compress said resilient means upon being subjected to compressive force to release said locking engagement between the free end of said shackle member and said case member.

7. A jib hank as claimed in claim 1 wherein said case member is hollow with said release means contained therein and being adapted to receive at least a portion of said shackle member therein, said case member having first and second opposite exterior planar surfaces extending transversely to the axis of said headstay when said jib hank is locked in sliding engagement therewith and said actuation means comprises an elongated member extending from one of said opposite exterior planar surfaces in a direction transverse to the plane thereof and substantially parallel to the axis of said headstay.

8. A jib hank as claimed in claim 7 wherein said case member is a generally rectangular hollow box having a pair of opposed major side walls providing said opposite exterior planar surfaces.

9. The method of raising and lowering jib sails on a sailboat having a headstay, including the steps of securing a first jib sail to said headstay by a first plurality of jib hanks each adapted to be released from said headstay by compressive force on an actuation means extending downwardly therefrom; securing the tack of said jib sail to said sailboat and raising said first jib sail by a first halyard; securing a second jib sail to said headstay by a second plurality of jib hanks each adapted to be released from said headstay by compressive force on an actuation means extending downwardly therefrom; all of said second plurality of jib hanks being secured to said headstay below the lowermost one of said first plurality of jib hanks; securing the tack of said second jib to said sailboat and raising said second jib by a second halyard; whereby the leading one of said second plurality of jib banks is brought into compressive contact with the actuation means of successive ones of said firstplurality of jib hanks in turn releasing them from said headstay; lowering said first jib sail and detaching said tack of said first jib sail from said sailboat.

10. The method of claim 9 including the step of-raising said second jib sail on the windward side of said first jib sail and then tacking said sailboat to enable said first jib to be lowered on the windward side of said second jib sail.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said second jib sail is smaller than said first jib and said step of lowering said first jib sail includes the step of bringing the upperheadstay. 

1. A jib hank for sailboats comprising a shackle member adapted to slidably engage the headstay of a sailboat, a case member adapted to releasably lock said shackle member in sliding engagement with said headstay, said case member including release means adapted to be actuated to release said locking engagement between said shackle member and said case member, and actuation means extending from said jib hank on one side thereof in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said headstay when said jib hank is in locking engagement with said headstay, said actuation means being adapted to actuate said release means when said actuation means is subjected to compressive force and said jib hank being adapted to compressively contact the actuation means of an adjacent identical jib hank to actuate the release means thereof.
 2. A jib hank as claimed in claim 1 wherein a resilient means is included in said case member and adapted to be compressed by said shackle member when said shackle member is in locking engagement with said case member, whereby said shackle member is forcibly moved out of locking engagement with said case member by said resilient means when said release means is actuated by said actuation means.
 3. A jib hank as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shackle member is generally U-shaped, having heels of sufficient length to embrace both the luff rope of a jib sail and said headstay when said heels are received in said case member is locking engagement therewith, said release means including a resilient means maintaining said locking engagement, and said actuation means includes an elongated member extending from said case and adapted to compress said resilient means upon being subjected to compressive forces.
 4. A jib hank as claimed in claim 3 wherein means are included for securing said shackle member to said luff rope of said jib and elongated flexible means are provided to limit the spacial separation of said shackle member and said case member upon actuation of said release means by said actuation means.
 5. A jib hank as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shackle member comprises an elongated member having a first portion and a second portion extending transversely to said first portion, the free end of said first portion of said elongated member is mounted on said case member for pivotal movement of said elongated member to provide relative movement of the free end of said second portion of said elongated member toward and away from said case member, said free end of said second portion of said elongated member is adapted to be received in locking engagement with said case member and embracing said headstay, and said case member is adapted to be secured to the luff rope of a jib sail.
 6. A jib hank as claimed in claim 5 wherein said release means includes a resilient means maintaining said locking engagement and said actuation means includes an elongated member extending from said case and adapted to compress said resilient means upon being subjected to compressive force to release said locking engagement between the free end of said shackle member and said case member.
 7. A jib hank as claimed in claim 1 wherein said case member is hollow with said release means contained therein and being adapted to receive at least a portion of said shackle member therein, said case member having first and second opposite exterior planar surfaces extending transversely to the axis of said headstay when said jib hank is locked in sliding engagement therewith and said actuation means comprises an elongated member extending from one of said opposite exterior planar surfaces in a direction transverse to the plane thereof and substantially parallel to the axis of said headstay.
 8. A jib hank as claimed in claim 7 wherein said case member is a generally rectangular hollow box having a pair of opposed major side walls providing said opposite exterior planar surfaces.
 9. The method of raising and lowering jib sails on a sailboat having a headstay, including the steps of securing a first jib sail to said headstay by a first plurality of jib hanks each adapted to be released from said headstay by compressive force on an actuation means extending downwardly therefrom; securing the tack of said jib sail to said sailboat and raising said first jib sail by a first halyard; securing a second jib sail to said headstay by a second plurality of jib hanks each adapted to be released from said headstay by compressive force on an actuation means extending downwardly therefrom; all of said second plurality of jib hanks being secured to said headstay below the lowermost one of said first plurality of jib hanks; securing the tack of said second jib to said sailboat and raising said second jib by a second halyard; whereby the leading one of said second plurality of jib hanks is brought into compressive contact with the actuation means of successive ones of said first plurality of jib hanks in turn releasing them from said headstay; lowering said first jib sail and detaching said tack of said first jib sail from said sailboat.
 10. The method of claim 9 including the step of raising said second jib sail on the windward side of said first jib sail and then tacking said sailboat to enable said first jib to be lowered on the windward side of said second jib sail.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein said second jib sail is smaller than said first jib and said step of lowering said first jib sail includes the step of bringing the uppermost ones of said first plurality of jib hanks into compressive contact with said leading one of said second plurality of jib hanks whereby said uppermost ones of said first plurality of jib hanks are released from said headstay. 